Ukraine prepares large-scale prisoner swap: Zelenskyy announces key step

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced preparations for another prisoner swap, which is expected to take place in the near future. The country’s main goal remains unchanged — to bring home all Ukrainians held in Russian custody.

He said this in his evening video address.

Preparations for the return of heroes

The president stressed that work to free Ukrainians is ongoing and concrete results can be expected soon. He said the process is one of the key priorities for the negotiating team handling prisoner exchanges.

In his address, Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave an encouraging message for the families of Ukrainian troops, saying the next step in the process is already in preparation.

«We expect a prisoner swap to happen soon. Captives must be returned home, ” the Ukrainian president stressed.

Ukraine’s firm position

The president also set out Ukraine’s broader vision for ending the war, noting that any agreements must be based on real security guarantees. He cautioned against concessions to Russia, saying any «reward» for Russia would only provoke further violations of agreements in the future and would not bring lasting peace.

According to the president, Ukrainians need to feel that the situation is genuinely moving toward a just peace, not just a pause that the enemy could use to regroup.

«There must be no rewards for the aggressor. If any reward is given, Russia will eventually break any agreement, ” Zelenskyy concluded.